Pivot and guide rod assembly for bi-fold door

ABSTRACT

Pivot and guide rod assembly for bi-fold door includes plastic sleeve for mounting in door channel and supporting a pivot rod. A spring is arranged to urge pivot rod outwardly from sleeve, latch means being provided to retain pivot rod in retracted position during shipping and mounting of door.

nited States Patent 1 Ford et al. 1 May 14, 1974 [54] PIVOT AND GUIDEROD ASSEMBLY FOR 3,302,691 2/1967 Andrews et al 160/206 $333??? 313233?? 1 a CH anm. Inventors: Ralph Ford, Harper Woods; Kim 3,391,7237/1968 Kirby l60/206 W. Wright, Roseville, both of Mich.

[73] Assignee: Evans Products Company, Portland, primary Examine,-Kenneth Downey Oreg- Attorney, Agent, or FirmKlarquist, Sparkman,

25, Campbell, Leigh, & Whmston [2l] Appl. No.: 382,486

' [57] ABSTRACT 3 16/169 1 -Pivot and guide rod assembly for bi-folddo'or includes [581 Field J'rh'.III'i'i'ii'"@5'506- 16/168 Y and W16/169 porting a pivot rod. A spring 1s arranged to urge pivot rodoutwardly from sleeve, latch means being provided to retain pivot rod inretracted position during [56] uNlTE g ggizi gs gzqrENTs shipping andmounting of door.

3,170,506 2/1965 Johnson 160/206 4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures 7O 72 38 6626 I 4 O PATEMEWY 14 1924 3 8 1 0 7 PIVOT AND GUIDE ROD ASSEMBLY FORBI-FOLD DOOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION For many reasons so-calledbi-folding doors formed of fabricated metal have become popular forenclosing large openings, such as for closets and cabinets. Variousfitting arrangements have been provided heretofore for supporting thedoors in the opening and guiding them during their opening and closingmovement. Some of the prior arrangements have been disadvantageous byreason of the difficulty in assembling the same in the initial door, orinstalling them, or by reason of lack of adjustment in the device wheninstalled.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the presentinvention to provide a pivot assembly for mounting bi-fold doors thatovercomes the several disadvantages mentioned above.

More particularly, the present invention is concerned with an upperpivot or guide assembly for use with a bifold door having a formed metalface sheet and a stiffening channel secured along one edge of the sheet.The pivot or guide assembly of the invention comprises an elongatedplastic sleeve which is adapted to extend through openings in theflanges of the stiffening channel, the sleeve having means operativelyarranged to engage the channel to retain the sleeve therein. A pivot rodis provided which includes a shank portion positioned within the sleeveand slidable longitudinally therein. The pivot rod is provided with anenlarged head portion and a compression spring is operatively arrangedbetween the head portion of the rod and an end of the sleeve for urgingthe head portion away from the sleeve. A latch means is provided forreleasaby engaging such head .portion and retaining the same in closeproximity to the end of the sleeve during shipment and assembly of thedoor. The latch means is adapted to easily disengage to permit releaseof the head portion and the pivot rod to be pushed partially outwardlyof the sleeve. In the outward position the head portion is adapted toengage within a socket or track as selected so as to retain the door inoperative position.

DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an enlarged sectional view through a pivot rod assembly and aportion of a door illustrating the pivot rod assembly in its retractedposition prior to installation of a door;

FIG. 2 is an elevation of a comer of a door assembly showing the pivotrod assembly in its extended, operative position;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view showing the arrangement of the pivot rodand track when used as a guide.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The invention is particularlyconcerned with an improved construction of bi-fold or folding doorconstruction such as is shown in US. Pat. Nos. 2,898,987 and 2,943,675.Doors of this nature comprise a pair of door sections which arepivotally secured at the left and righthand sides of a closet opening ordoorway. Each door section comprises a pair of panels, an outside panelwhich is vertically pivoted adjacent one side of the closet opening, andan inside panel which is pivotally connected to the outside panel. Eachdoor section functions to open and close one half the closet opening.Guide means, including an upper or lower track, or both, serves as apivot support for the outside panel and as a guide for the inside panelto the door units when in their opening and closing movements. Becausethis general construction is well known and is shown in the prior artincluding such patents, only the particular details of the doorconstruction as modified in this invention are illustrated herein.

Illustrated in the drawing is a portion of an outside panel 10 of such adoor which is fabricated of sheet steel and which includes a face sheet12 the vertical edges of which are formed to provide inturned channels14 along the vertical edges. Along the top and bottom of each paneladditional stiffening is provided in the form of transverse hat sectionsor stiffening channels 16 which comprise flanges l8 and 20 extendingsubstantially vertically outwardly from the surface of the face sheet 12and a connecting web 22. The channels 16 aresuitably secured as bywelding to the face sheet 12.

The pivot assembly of the invention comprises an elongated plasticsleeve 30 of nylon or other suitable material which extends throughcooperating openings 32, 34 in the flanges 18, 20, respectively. Formedon the upper end of the sleeve is an integral collar 26 which abuts theouter surface of the flange 18 adjacent the upper edge of the panel 10.An integral post 38 extends outwardly from one side of the collarsubstantially perpendicularly to the sleeve 30, the post having anintegral arm 40 extending downwardly over the web 22 substantiallyparallel to the axis of the sleeve 30. The arm 40 is provided with afinger 42 on the end thereof which extends inwardly toward the sleeveand engages in an opening 44 in the web 22 to retain the sleeve in thechannel 16. It will be apparent that the sleeve 30 is mounted in thechannel by sliding the sleeve through the openings 32, 34. The post 38and arm 40 have sufficient resiliency to bend the arm outwardly as thesleeve is slid into place until the finger 42 is abreast of the opening44 at which time it snaps into place and releasably holds the sleeve inposition.

The sleeve 30 is adapted to receive the shank portion 46 of a pivot orguide rod 48. The pivot rod shank 46 is of such diameter that it mayslide longitudionally within the sleeve 30. The upper end of the pivotor guide rod 48 is provided with an enlarged head portion 50 which maybe of nylon or other suitable plastic firmly secured as by a press fitto the end of the shank 46. The head portion 50 comprises an uppercylindrical pivot head 52 adapted to be received within a suitablesocket 54 suitably supported on the door frame. The head portion 50 alsoincludes a frusto-conical flange 58 projecting outwardly and downwardly,the flange 58 having a lip 60 on the outer edge thereof defining aperipheral notch or cup 62. The cup 62 is adapted releasably to receivethe end of a latch 64 integral with and extending from the post 38 asbest shown in FIG. 1. Since both the lip 60 and the latch 64 areresilient, upward force upon the rod 46 will tend to cause deflection ofthese components to release the rod and to permit it to move upwardlyrelative to the sleeve.

Means are provided to urge the pivot rod 48 upwardly or outwardly withrespect to the sleeve 30. Such means comprises a compression spring 66,the lower end of which surrounds the upper end of the sleeve 30immediately above the collar 26 and is removably retained thereon by aplurality of projections 70 each extending outwardly from the surface ofthe sleeve to engage the lower turn of the spring. The upper end of thespring 66 surrounds the lower end 71 of the head portion 50 which islikewise provided with a plurality of projections 72 releasably toengage a portion of the spring.

The pivot socket 54 may be suitably mounted in any manner within a track74 suitably secured to the door frame or header 76. The illustratedtrack 74 comprise an extruded metal member including opposite archshapedside walls 78 and an inner channel 80 of rectangular cross section. Thebottom wall 82 of the channel 80 abuts against the header 76 and thetrack is suitably secured to the header, such as by screws 84. The trackis formed with a pair of opposite lips 86 projecting inwardly from theopposite sides of the track.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 in the illustrated embodiment the pivotsocket 54 is a stamped and formed metal member including a flat plateportion 88 adapted to bridge the opposite bottom edges 90 of the track74 and having an extruded hole 92 therein for receiving the pivot rodhead 52. A flange 94 (FIG. 4) extends upwardly from one end of the plateportion 88 and which flange is shaped to fit snugly within channel 80,the flange 94 being connected to the plate portion by a neck 96. Thepivot socket 54 is clamped in place by a clamping portion including atop part 98 adapted to engage the upper edges of lips 86 and bottom part100 adapted to engage the lower edges 90 of the track, the metal memberbeing reversely curved to position the bottom part 100 beneath the toppart 98. A screw 102 extends upwardly through hole 104 in the bottompart 100 and is threadedly received in a cooperatively threaded opening106 in the top part 98, whereby tightening of the screw 102 effectsclamping of the parts 98. 100 against the respective track surfaces tofix the position of the pivot socket 54 in the track.

To assemble the pivot rod assembly in a door, the spring 66 and pivotrod 48 are assembled, the pivot rod is inserted into the sleeve and thespring depressed until the latch 64 engages in the cup 62. The sleeve 30is then inserted through the flange openings 32, 34 until the further 42on the arm 40 engages in the opening 44. This assembly just describedcan be done at the factory or it can be done at the job site. It will beapparent the sleeve can be easily removed from a door in the event thatit is desired to change the hand of the door at the job site or for anyother reason that may occur, simply by prying up the arm 40 so that thefinger 42 clears the opening 44.

When a door is positioned in the door opening and the pivot head 52 ispositioned beneath the socket 54, the installer needs simply give asharp tap to the lower end of the pivot rod 48 to effect release of thelatch 64 whereupon the spring 66 will push the pivot rod upwardly sothat the pivot head 52 engages within the socket 54. The spring 66 willkeep the pivot head engaged within the socket as the door is adjustedfor height and, of course, accommodates the door to openings of variousheights. The extension of the nylon sleeve 30 entirely through thechannel 16 eliminates metal-to-metal contact and the long sleeve adds tothe smooth operating characteristics by creating with the pivot rod apiston-like action.

It will be apparent the assembly may be used as a guide by mounting theassembly in a similar manner to the inside panels of each door sectionin which case the pivot head 52 will slide in the channel as shown inFIG. 5. As a guide it may be used either at the upper end of the door orat the lower end.

Having illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of theinvention, it should be apparent that it permits of modification andarrangement and detail.

We claim:

1. In a metal door assembly;

a door panel comprising a face sheet,

a stiffening channel secured to one surface of said sheet along an edgethereof, said channel having a pair of spaced apart flanges extendingoutwardly from said surface and a connecting web,

a pivot rod assembly mounted in said channel,

said assembly comprising an elongated plastic sleeve extending throughcorresponding openings in said flanges,

sleeve retaining means operatively arranged between said sleeve and saidchannel to retain said sleeve in said channel,

a pivot rod having a shank portion positioned in said sleeve andslidable therein and an enlarged head portion,

a compression spring operatively arranged between said channel and saidhead portion for urging said head portion away from said channel,

and releasable latch means operatively arranged between said headportion and said sleeve for releasably retaining said head in aretracted position adjacent said collar.

2. A metal door assembly as set forth in claim 1; said sleeve retainingmeans comprising an arm integral with said sleeve and releasablyengaging in a cooperating notch in said channel web.

3. A metal door assembly as set forth in claim 1;

said releasable latch means comprising a flange on said head portionformed with a lip on the free end thereof, and a latch element on saidsleeve adapted to engage said lip,

said lip and said latch element being resilient whereby sufficient axialforce applied to said pivot rod will cause said lip and latch means todeflect and release said pivot rod for movement under the force of saidspring.

4. In a metal door assembly;

a door panel comprising a face sheet,

a stiffening channel secured to one surface of said sheet along an edgethereof, said channel having a pair of spaced apart flanges extendingoutwardly from said surface and a connecting web,

a pivot rod assembly mounted in said channel,

said assembly comprising an elongated plastic sleeve extending throughcorresponding openings in said flanges,

said sleeve having an integral collar formed on one end thereof abuttingthe outer surface of the flange adjacent said edge,

an integral post extending outwardly from one side of said collarsubstantially perpendicularly to said head portion away from saidcollar,

said head portion having a peripheral cupped flange thereon,

and a latch integral with said post extending from said post and adaptedreleasably to engage said flange when said head is positioned adjacentsaid collar thereby to retain said head against movement away from saidcollar, said head being releasable by applying a sharp blow on the endof said shank portion opposite said head thereby to cum said latch fromits flange engaging position.

1. In a metal door assembly; a door panel comprising a face sheet, astiffening channel secured to one surface of said sheet along an edgethereof, said channel having a pair of spaced apart flanges extendingoutwardly from said surface and a connecting web, a pivot rod assemblymounted in said channel, said assembly comprising an elongated plasticsleeve extending through coRresponding openings in said flanges, sleeveretaining means operatively arranged between said sleeve and saidchannel to retain said sleeve in said channel, a pivot rod having ashank portion positioned in said sleeve and slidable therein and anenlarged head portion, a compression spring operatively arranged betweensaid channel and said head portion for urging said head portion awayfrom said channel, and releasable latch means operatively arrangedbetween said head portion and said sleeve for releasably retaining saidhead in a retracted position adjacent said collar.
 2. A metal doorassembly as set forth in claim 1; said sleeve retaining means comprisingan arm integral with said sleeve and releasably engaging in acooperating notch in said channel web.
 3. A metal door assembly as setforth in claim 1; said releasable latch means comprising a flange onsaid head portion formed with a lip on the free end thereof, and a latchelement on said sleeve adapted to engage said lip, said lip and saidlatch element being resilient whereby sufficient axial force applied tosaid pivot rod will cause said lip and latch means to deflect andrelease said pivot rod for movement under the force of said spring. 4.In a metal door assembly; a door panel comprising a face sheet, astiffening channel secured to one surface of said sheet along an edgethereof, said channel having a pair of spaced apart flanges extendingoutwardly from said surface and a connecting web, a pivot rod assemblymounted in said channel, said assembly comprising an elongated plasticsleeve extending through corresponding openings in said flanges, saidsleeve having an integral collar formed on one end thereof abutting theouter surface of the flange adjacent said edge, an integral postextending outwardly from one side of said collar substantiallyperpendicularly to said sleeve, said post having an integral arm at theouter end thereof extending over said web substantially parallel to saidsleeve, said arm having a finger on the end thereof extending inwardlytoward said sleeve and engaging in an opening in said web to retain saidsleeve in said channel, a pivot rod having a shank portion positioned insaid sleeve and slidable therein and an enlarged head portion, acompression spring operatively arranged between said collar and saidhead portion for urging said head portion away from said collar, saidhead portion having a peripheral cupped flange thereon, and a latchintegral with said post extending from said post and adapted releasablyto engage said flange when said head is positioned adjacent said collarthereby to retain said head against movement away from said collar, saidhead being releasable by applying a sharp blow on the end of said shankportion opposite said head thereby to cam said latch from its flangeengaging position.